1-3 July, 1863.
Perhaps the climactic battle of the Civil War, although the war would continue for almost two years. Gettysburg marked the last offensive action by the Confederate Army, the failed attack on Cemetery Ridge has since been known as “The High Water Mark of the Confederacy” as it marked the furthest incursion into Union territory.
For the rest of the bloody war, the Confederate troops would be on the defensive.
Sadly, the battle gets little notoriety now, as does the Civil War in general.
I admit to not remembering the date until I saw this post.
For those who haven’t been to the Gettysburg battlefield, it is WELL worth the trip. Do the self-guided tour, stand in the Devil’s Den, watch the ripples in Bloody Run, and imagine trying to make Pickett’s Charge…
Plan on at least a full day.
I spent a day there, but could easily have spent a day and a half. It is an awe inspiring place.
We don’t live too far from Gettysburg, we have the auto tour cds, and we’ve been there a number of times. I still don’t feel like I’ve gotten the full grasp of everything. There are markers and monuments that I’ve only seen from a distance. (Those things are all over the place.) You could easily spend two days in the museum and visitor’s center alone. My husband and my dad both say that Michael Shaara’s “The Killer Angels” should be required reading before visiting the Gettysburg battlefield. (Jeff Shaara’s “The Last Full Measure” novel covers the whole of the Civil War. Also good stuff. And yes, Jeff is Michael’s son.) PA has done a marvelous job of preserving the battlefield and the history. I honestly think it could take a week, at least, before you could feel you’ve done justice to the place. Besides the battlefield audio tour, you can take the nighttime ghost tours, visit the museum, see the battlefield on horseback, see reenactments (expensive, and usually just following the actually anniversary of the battle), and just wander around downtown, looking for bullet holes in historic buildings.
I agree with everything you say. I’ll have to look for a copy of “The Killer Angels” and add it to me “to read” list. Horseback would be interesting, but I’d have to learn how to ride a horse. Or at least not fall off!
We didn’t spend much time on the downtown portion of the tour, then again Gettysburg is a city and the people there have to live their lives too. I’m definitely going back some day. My son wants to go, so maybe we can do a father – son trip.
I went there in 2006 when I was at the National Fire Academy. I spent two days on two different weekends, and could easily spend a couple of more. It is truly amazing as you reflect back and try to imagine the struggle that took place.
Considering the horrible heat and other conditions, it’s not surprising that a lot of wounded succumbed to what today would be easily survivable injuries. That and considering that the usual treatment for extremity wounds was amputation, field hospitals were set up wherever either side could find room, and just the general state of medicine.
To think that a few more yards and the Confederates would have won the day, likely forced Lincoln to sue for peace, and changed US and thus world history just makes a visit there all the more awe inspiring.
It was well worth it, and sent chills up my back just looking at the battlefield…
We were reminded of this when David was deploying. The First Minnesota (one of the first state units to answer Lincolns call to arms and fought in nearly all battles…including a major part of Gettysburg.
Below is the link to a transcript from Lt. William Lochren…who happened to be there. Interesting read.
http://www.gdg.org/Research/MOLLUS/mollus7.html